Light Aircraft Crashes During Agricultural Maneuver

Casualties unknown • Malone, TX, US

An aircraft crashed while preparing for a spraying operation after making a low pass over a cotton field. Witnesses reported the plane began to lose control before disappearing behind terrain.

What happened

The aircraft was involved in an accident during the initial phase of an agricultural mission. The pilot had completed a low-altitude pass over a cotton field with the specific intent of alerting a ground worker to their presence. This maneuver was performed prior to commencing the actual spraying operation.

According to testimony from a young bicyclist who witnessed the event, the aircraft was in the process of turning around after the initial pass. The witness observed the plane begin to exhibit unstable flight characteristics, described as 'flopping,' shortly before it disappeared behind a nearby hill. A field workman located in the target area did not observe the turn or the subsequent crash.

The wreckage distribution indicates a left-wing-first impact with the ground. Following this initial contact, the fuselage nosed into a low embankment. The initial point of impact was situated approximately 200 feet east of the cotton field intended for treatment. The main body of the aircraft came to rest an additional 110 feet east of that impact point, oriented in a westerly direction.

The investigation

Examination of the pilot's medical status was conducted through standard pathological and toxicological protocols. The resulting reports revealed findings that were either negative or deemed insignificant. This suggests that acute physiological impairment or substance influence was not a primary factor evident from biological samples.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1986-06-23 Cessna A188B accident near Malone, TX?

An aircraft crashed while preparing for a spraying operation after making a low pass over a cotton field. Witnesses reported the plane began to lose control before disappearing behind terrain.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1986-06-23 involved a Cessna A188B, registration N9737J, operated by John Vickery, at Malone, TX.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X33860. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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